Emi Trost is the reigning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year and the league coaches are expecting more of the same from the University of Minnesota Duluth All-American junior this winter as they voted her the 2017 NSIC Preseason Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

A native of Goodhue, Minn., Trost enjoyed a rewarding indoor season one year ago, finishing as the top point producer at the NSIC meet and winning two individual titles  -- the 1,000-meter run (for the second year in a row) and mile run --  in record-breaking times. She also ran the 800-meter leg on UMD's title-winning distance medley relay team. Chosen the NCAA Division II Central Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, Trost went on to finish second in the mile in a school-record time of 4:37.57 at the NCAA II Indoor Track and Field Championships and was part of a Bulldog distance medley relay unit that also placed second at that event last March.

Trost and the Bulldogs (164 points) as a team were projected for a third-place finish by the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, taking a backseat to defending champion Minnesota State University-Mankato (194 pts. and 12 first-place votes) and Augustana College (176 pts. and and two first-place votes). Winona State University (159 pts.) was fourth, followed by the University of Mary (157 pts. and the remaining first-place vote) and St. Cloud State University (112 pts.)

UMD, which opens its 2016-17 indoor season this Saturday (Dec. 3) just down College Street at the College of St. Scholastica's Opener, welcomes back 38 letterwinners from a year ago, including Trost and fellow All-American Breanna Colbenson (the 2016 NSIC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year). Sophomore Elizabeth Brunner (third in the NSIC indoor triple jump last year) also returns as does a trio of other 2016 NSIC indoor meet point producers -- sophomore hurdler Danielle Kohlwey, sophomore high jumper Michaela Hess, junior sprinter Erica Kesseh and sophomore sprinter Taylor Amundson. The distance events should once again be a strong suit for a Bulldog squad that ranks as one of the youngest Joanna Warmington has had in her seven years at the head coaching helm. She looks for Wisconsin high school state champions Alyssa Kavajecz (high jump) and Elizabeth Kyes (800 meters) and Savannah Rivard (400 meters) to have an immediate impact.

2017 NSIC Preseason Indoor Track and Field Coaches Poll